About us

Salutations

In 1902, founder Ichijiro Nobe first introduced Japan to the “cold draw steel pipe” technology that he learned while in Germany. In 1921, Nobe founded our company in the city of Osaka. Afterwards, he engaged in the manufacturing and sale of steel pipes, providing products and service that responded to customer needs.
Passing on technology with 100 years of tradition while moving forward with innovation, we continue to engage in making products that have high added value.
We believe that with a focus on iron transformed into a variety of forms and the ability to respond to a host of needs, we have been able to contribute to the development and prosperity of society by enriching conventional fields and engaging in new ones.
We ask for your continued patronage as we continue to give our utmost effort to customer development.

VALUE

VALUE

We want to give meaning to life. At the workplace, where we spend one third of our lives, we strive for societal development and prosperity by pushing our strength to the limit and performing work that customers find wholly satisfactory.

MISSION

MISSION

With a focus on working with iron, a measure of cultural development, our company was founded on the spirit of contributing to society and consulting with customers on equal footing with trust and sincerity in order to respond to the needs of the time.

VISION

VISION

With adaptation to environmental changes and steadfast development that continues on with secure footing brought about through a spirit of constant preemption, we aim to be the hero of the industrial world.

History

Foundation period

While founder Ichijiro Nobe was giving birth to the Osaka steel industry, he obtained a drawn steel pipe (elongation) machine and founded this company in 1921 with a specialization in steel pipes.

Afterwards, the name changed to Osaka Steel Tube Co., Ltd., in 1933, the headquarters and factory were relocated and expanded, we invited head technician Warner Baerhi from German company Mannesmann, and we took other initiatives aimed at increasing technology. Along with these activities, the company set up cold draw steel tube plants in the areas around Tokyo and Seoul in an effort to expand operations.

Headquarters relacation to Sasebo

The Osaka and Tokyo factories were lost to fire during WWII (which lasted until 1945), and the Seoul factory was taken. In an effort to welcome employees that would salvage the Korea factory after the war, the headquarters and factory were relocated to Sasebo and underwent revival as a steel pipe provider for the shipbuilding industry.

Later, there was an opportunity to make a capital investment with Sumitomo Metal Industries Corporation (current day Nippon Steel & Sumitomo Metal Corporation), and efforts continued to supply technology in the form of cold draw steep pipe production and specialized sale of steel pipes.

Continuing with the development of various new products, Japanese industrial standards (carbon steel for plumbing, carbon steel for pressurized plumbing, carbon steel for high-temperature plumbing, carbon steel for boiler heat transfer, carbon steel for general structure, carbon steel for mechanical structure), the Nihon Kaiji Kyokai (NK), the American Bureau of Shipping (AB), French Bureau of Shipping (BV), Lloyd’s Register of Shipping (LR), Norwegian Bureau of Shipping (NV) and other certifications have been attained in successful initiative after successful initiative.

In 1968, capital investment increased to 100 million JPY, and the headquarters and factory were moved to Sasebo’s Oto Town as part of expansion efforts. With an increase from previous capabilities, the company became capable of satisfying customers with a more efficient production system.

Along with the introduction of a bright light torch treatment facility and three-draw elongation machines for speedy progress, a pipe tip surfacing machine, excess current deep damage apparatus, and an ultrasonic deformity detection equipment were introduced along with a pipe bender machine and pipe expander machine for secondary processing.

Moreover, in 1991, an automated, computer-controlled steel pipe storage system was set up that increased product assortment optimization and shipping accuracy.

Operational stabilization

In 1996, the headquarters and factor were relocated to their current home in Hario Kitamachi, Sasebo. The building left behind at the old location was reconstructed as a large-scale shopping mall. With the headquarters relocation and shopping mall construction, Aeon Oto Shopping Center was completed with the cooperation of our customers, suppliers, and local residents. The shopping center is loved by all in the region.

After the move, a bright light processing torch and corrugation processing machine were added in order to set up a system that could deliver customer orders in a reliable time frame. Also, we have added two steel pipe warehouses in order to further expand our functionality as a steel pipe business firm.

Up to that point, we were focused on distribution and other industrial groups related to steel pipe. However, our operations took on a multifaceted nature with regards to constructing the Aeon Oto Shopping Center, and we constructed a business model that made us resistant to the changing shifts in the steel industry while still being able to reliably work with customers.

Incorporating a variety of experiences to gain a multifaceted business operation without forgetting the spirit of foundation to maintain and develop a corporate culture of action.

Progress cannot be stopped

In 2013, solar panels were installed on the roof of the headquarters factory and warehouse, and we became a Nagasaki Prefectural corporate forerunner in the employment of mega solar energy production.

Organizational activation project using the 5S method started in 2015. We take into account the necessary attitude of all employees when constructing corporate culture.

In 2016, ultrasonic deformity detection equipment was increased, the quality assurance branch was renovated, and we continued to pursue the timely delivery of goods to our customers.

For the progress of customer and society

JUST IN TIME

Our products are used in electric power plants, petroleum refineries, and other social infrastructure. They are also used in ship parts, automotive parts, and agricultural equipment.

If electric power plants have an emergency shutdown, or if a petroleum refinery is out of commission for several days, or if boats or automobiles cannot be operated... If we can reduce the rate at which plants and machines break down, we can also reduce superfluous facilities and machines.

Every customer has high added value. We procure reliable materials, strictly manage the production process, keep records, and carefully check the quality of products.

Furthermore, with response to small orders and urgent orders, in other words, Just In Time delivery, shortened plant management period, reduction in customer material storage space, and shortened storage time, product degradation can be kept down. This contributes to a reduction of waste.

Avoiding Damage

We respond to customer requests to produce any size.

Avoiding damage and loss that occurs during the stages of product fabrication can also be referred to as extreme reduction in defective products. This has cost merits and other benefits for the customer, but also reduces the use of electricity, crude oil, gas, etc., as well as material shipping, waste disposal, and other pre and post fabrication energy that can be used efficiently. Environmental protection is also a factor; since 2014, a new, company-wide project of damage avoidance has been taken up.

Considerate Packaging

Among our products, we offer a variety of packaging models including, by customer request, anti-rust oil and anti-rust coating.

Requests to place steel products exposed to the air without anti-rust oil, the amount of work required to remove the anti-rust oil, problems with equipment for saving the anti-rust oil, and other issues are targeted for reduction. Such customer requests recognize the importance of taking environmental protection seriously, and using packaging that is gentler on the environment has become an initiative throughout the company that brings happiness to customers.

Similarly, we also offer less packaging for one-time-use products and provide packaging that allows a shorter time between unpacking and use.

Mega Solar

In 2014, we opened a power plant for the factory and steel pipe warehouses.

5180 solar panels are lined up in a row to produce a power output of 1239.2kW.

Fossil fuels, a central resource around the world, will one day dry up.

With worldwide population increase and economic development, there is serious concern for an approaching age in which fossil fuels run dry.

With a “pioneer spirit” present since the company’s foundation, we have developed the first mega solar electric energy production site in Nagasaki Prefecture.